12. Henry VIII – Tudor king of England

Here we have the portrait of Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger (1536). We are all familiar with the portrait of Henry VIII, but there is an interesting story behind it. Read the page from the NPG to discover more.

It is essential to differentiate a portrait that is BY an artist and a portrait that is AFTER an artist. What is the difference, in your opinion ? Look at this screenshot from the National Portrait Gallery website.

If we examine this colour image, which is a copy of the original, lost in a fire, we can first describe it and then deduce many things about Henry VIII. Remember, he was King of England and this portrait was to be one of the only images that would last of him. What did he want to portray through this authorized painting ?